As we all know, spring is a beautiful time in the Golden Isles. The azaleas and magnolias start to bloom and the island comes alive for the Episcopal Church Women of Christ Church Frederica’s annual Tour of Homes on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. That’s only fitting because it’s also a season of rain and rainbows, and, in a sense, the Tour is really a pot of gold for our community because its proceeds benefit many local non-profit agencies that serve children and families in the Golden Isles. In these pages, we celebrate this golden opportunity for giving and good works with fine jewelry from local retailers being modeled by representatives from some of the local charities who received funds from the ECW following last year’s Tour.

March cover model Megan Delarosa is a rare treasure indeed! She not only founded Beloved Christian Ministries, but she also works as a counselor with Centered for Life. Beloved Ministries helps single moms and their children connect with each other and the world around them with the guidance of Christian faith. Their goal is to enable restoration — spiritual, emotional, and physical. belovedministries.com Centered for Life is a non-profit Christian counseling center offering one on one counseling and life coaching, marriage and family counseling, adolescence and youth counseling, and clinical and pastoral counseling. centeredforlife.com

Founder of Girls on the Run Golden Isles Tracy Quintanar is more precious than the gems she wears because she helps foster healthy active lifestyles for girls. Girls on the Run is a transformational, physical activity-based, positive youth development program from girls in 3rd-8th grade. They inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident, using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. gotrgoldenisles.org

Hillary Johnston makes a statement in this eye-catching necklace with mother of pearl coral centerpiece by Clara Williams and in her job as manager of the Safe Harbor Thrift Shop & Donations Center. Safe Harbor Children’s Center provides therapeutic services and a safe haven for abused, abandoned, neglected, at risk, runaway, and homeless children. The newly opened Thrift Shop gives the public the opportunity to support their services by shopping gently used goods at discount prices. safeharborcenterinc.org

A radiant symbol of Hope, Shelley Hendrix shines a light for victims of sex trafficking as a volunteer and counselor at House of Hope. House of Hope rescues, renews and restores minor females who have been victims of domestic sex trafficking by providing transitional housing and counseling services, and fights the factors that encourage trafficking to thrive. houseofhoperefugeoflove.org

Grace House’s Caroline Kittle is a golden example of grace personified. She is at the helm of Grace House’s mission to provide women in recovery, through discipline and structure, the opportunity to build a foundation of living free from drugs and alcohol and to develop a relationship with God, regardless of their financial situation. gracehousebrunswick.org

Golden Givers

The Annual Tour of Homes presented by the Episcopal Church Women of Christ Church

Julie Andrew

Christ Church Frederica

Frederica is now in its 66th year. The proceeds of the Tour are used to benefit local and regional charities that assist women and children. More than a decade ago, Barbara Bruce, 2008 Tour Chairman, said of the grant award process that is used to distribute the proceeds raised from the Tour of Homes, “For me, this is one of the most rewarding aspects of the Tour…fulfilling our mission statement which is to benefit women and children. We meet as a board to review all the grant requests and meticulously select from that list. We share the joy of this ministry with the entire congregation of Christ Church.” That year, the ECW gifted $70,000 to approximately two dozen charities. Amazingly, that generosity has grown and flourished. Last year, the ECW was able to make a record high gift of $85,000 to nearly 40 local and regional charities. Every organization that applied for a grant was accepted! Grant requests range from program funding to equipment purchase and improvements to facilities.

These funds are incredibly beneficial to the agencies receiving them, and words of gratitude are echoed in the many letters of thanks from the recipients. “Please know how grateful we are for your partnership. There are so many who fall through the cracks and don’t qualify for financial help from other agencies due to race, age, income, and (other criteria).” “Your good work in the community is such a gift. Your kind and generous donation allows us to continue to help kids.” “Words cannot express our gratitude for your generous donation. It will help us feed single moms and their children from every racial, economic and spiritual background.” And there are many more opportunities to serve needs in our community. Grant applications for 2019 are being accepted through March 31. Application forms are available at christchurchtourofhomes.org. It is only with community support of the Tour that the mission of the ECW, and by extension, the missions of these agencies can continue. Your ticket purchases are invaluable.

The 66th Annual Tour of Homes will take place on Saturday, March 16th. Since it’s the day before St. Patrick’s Day, you’re invited to don your green or sport a shamrock or two to liven up the occasion. If the luck of the Irish is with us, maybe we’ll even spot a rainbow that day (as long as the rain is gone long before Tour hours start!) This year’s Tour stops include four private homes on Sea Island and three private homes on St. Simons Island, as well as the historic stops of Christ Church Frederica and the Christ Church cemetery, as well as its chapel, historic St. Ignatius, the azalea wonderland of Wesley Garden, and the gorgeous grounds of Musgrove

Retreat and Conference Center. 2019 Tour of Homes Chairman Charlotte Graham and Co-Chairman Susie Henning and their Tour Committees have been at work behind the scenes since before Christmas securing homes, docents, transportation, and all the many other things that make for a successful Tour Day. This year, in another display of community support, it will be Glynn County school busses that provide transportation from Gascoigne Bluff to the Sea Island Tour stops. The annual event involves the coordination of hundreds of volunteers and logistics that almost rival military strategy. They will be ready to welcome guests on Tour Day and to show off the wonderfully eclectic mix of homes that display a fantastic variety of design styles and décor. Please come out on Tour Day to see the culmination of all their hard work.

Advance tickets for the Tour of Homes are $40 and are available on St. Simons Island at Christ Church Parish House, Cloister Collection, H & H Lifestyles, Maggie’s Boutique, Roberta’s, St. Simons Drug Co., Southern Finds, Tabby House, Two Friends, and Viola’s Market; in Brunswick at Antiques, Etc. and Ned Cash & Associates Jewelers; on Jekyll Island at Jekyll Realty; and online at christchurchtourofhomes.org. On Tour Day, tickets are $50 and are available at Christ Church Parish House and Gascoigne Bluff.